Seven "Deadly" Sins

             I am about to begin a sermon series on “Seven Life-Affirming Virtues.” What I plan on doing is staking out the territory God inhabits (the virtue), and addressing the two extremes that flank either side. Both flanks are sins. For example: the virtue humility is flanked on one side by pride (too high a view of one’s self) and on the other side by low self-esteem (too low a view of one’s self.)

            My story this morning concerns an article I read about DISCIPLESHIP magazine back in 1992. In the article, readers individually responded to a survey by communicating to the editors of the periodical the greatest spiritual challenge of each reader.

            Here is how they ranked:

               1. Materialism

              2. Pride

              3. Self-centeredness

              4. Laziness

              5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness

              6. (Tie) Sexual lust

              7. Envy

              8. Gluttony

              9. Lying

            If you count materialism as greed, you find all seven of the traditional “seven deadly sins” present.  Notice none of these sins will get you thrown in jail. None will even get you disfellowshipped from today’s churches. As far as the secular and spiritual cultures are concerned, you and I can practice these sins with impunity—free from unpleasant consequences.

            Maybe that is why these sins are called “deadly.”

Too Late to Take Her Out

            Being single can be discouraging if you want to marry. Sometimes, if one is not careful, discouragement can lead to bitterness.

            I can’t help but think about the old story of the elderly woman who passed away.

            Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive; I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.”

            

You Can't Campaign Forever

Former senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole noted the presence of George McGovern at the funeral of Richard Nixon’s wife, Pat. McGovern had been a bitter rival of Nixon and had run against him as the candidate of the Democrat party in the 1972 presidential election.

Intrigued, Dole asked McGovern why he had come to the funeral. McGovern replied, "You can't go on campaigning forever."

Sooner or late, we all need to let it go.

TO FELL A TREE

           I first read the following story over thirty years ago. It was written by a gentleman named Harold Poland:

On the slope of Longs Peak near Estes Park lies the ruin of a giant tree.  It had stood there for 400 years defying winter storms and bitter cold.  

It had been struck by lightning 14 times and many of its gnarled limbs had been broken by howling winds. Yet it stood.

Nothing in nature seemed able to conquer it!  But it has, at last, been felled by beetles working beneath its bark.

Men are like that:  Able to stand the "giant" temptations. Capable of withstanding every wind of doctrine, every trial of circumstance and every vicious assault of Satan.

They will not succumb to the big sins (so called)--murder, adultery, theft, and lying.  But while no adverse feature of life seemed capable of destroying their determination, sinking their spirit, or claiming their affection, the "little beetles" moved in, ate away at the insides, and claim the life of another of God's giants. . . . .

Little resentments, hostilities, and unforgiving attitudes take over.  Pettiness, hidden anger, annoyances, and grudge eat away beneath the surface until, at last, man falls.

            What does it take to "fell a giant"?  Don't let the little things destroy you!

             

Enrichment

This morning, I heard on the radio much commentary on the Michael Vick story. In case you have not heard, Michael Vick is currently the top-ranked quarterback in the NFL.

Ten years ago, he was the first player taken in the NFL draft. He earned tens of millions of dollars, while becoming a pro bowl quarterback. Then, federal investigators discovered he was running a dog-fighting ring. 

Vick was sentenced to almost two years in prison. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to give him a chance as a back-up quarterback. This year, after starter Kevin Kolb got hurt the first game of the season, Vick took over as the starter and, now, might be the best player in football.

This has made a number of people mad. They feel that Vick should be banished from the sport forever.

One talk-show host compared these people to those who are bitter over the brokers of Wall Street, who cost people their life savings, went to prison, and are now seeking to live a better life. They just can’t let this sin go. The Wall Street reference made me think.

Material riches will one day rot or burn up. Forgiveness is a quality that will enrich the soul forever.

You Asked My Opinion of Him

The publication OUR DAILY BREAD related a story about Robert E. Lee. In honor of Veteran’s Day, I thought I would pass this story of one of America’s greatest soldiers.

During the Civil War, General Lee was asked to assess a fellow officer. This particular officer had been offering very negative comments concerning Lee.

Lee’s response was to state he found the officer’s performance very satisfactory. This answer created confusion for the questioner.

“General, I guess you don’t know what he’s been saying about you.”

Lee replied, “I know, but I was asked my opinion of him, not his opinion of me.”

Matt. 6: 12 Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. CEV

Demolition Derby

Recently, a demolition crew began tearing down a house in Denton, TX. They were making headway, when they received some very bad news—they were tearing down the wrong house. The crew’s mission was to destroy the house across the street. Now, according to WORLD magazine, Francis Howard, age 69, owns one very damaged house.

I know people who live like that crew. Typically, they are those who have been hurt in the past. Maybe a spouse left them, maybe a family member mistreated them in childhood, maybe a family friend abused them, maybe they suffered a traumatic experience; but now they are attacking people who have nothing to do with the past mistreatment. Still, because of their anger or pain, these folks go around in life tearing other people down.

Jesus said, “But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you” (Mt. 5:44). Somebody has got to break the chain. Maybe loving our enemies is the place to start.

Back Taxes

I read in WORLD magazine this week something that made me crack up. Aaron Zeff was sitting in his office, when two dark-suited men approached.

Aaron owns a car wash business in Sacramento California. The two men were IRS agents. They were there to collect delinquent taxes. Hearing this, Aaron’s heart sank. However, fear turned to mirth when he opened the agents’ envelope. Inside was his tax bill the agents had come to collect – the grand total was four cents.

I laughed until I thought about Jesus’ story of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18. In spite of God’s forgiveness, how often do I hunt somebody down to pay the "four cents" he owes me?

Remember the slogan, "More Taste--Less Filling"?

" Maybe ours should be, "Less Bitterness--More Forgiveness!"

The High Cost of Getting Even

Years ago, Dale Carnegie was touring Yellowstone National Park. He was sitting in bleacher seats along with some other tourists, anticipating the appearance of the mighty grizzly bear. Sure enough, one appeared, eating the food park rangers had set out to lure him within view.

A park ranger had briefed the tourists on the might of the grizzly. With the possible exception of the buffalo or the Kodiak bear, the grizzly could defeat any other animal in the Western world.

Strangely enough, while the excited tourists were viewing the awesome grizzly, another animal came into view. Casually, he walked up and began eating from the same food. Conceivably, if a Kodiak bear or a buffalo had appeared, the grizzly could have very well have fought them.

What animal could have possibly materialized that the grizzly bear would have left alone? The answer? A skunk.

The grizzly could have destroyed that skunk with one swipe of his paw, yet he left him alone. Why? Because he had discovered from life’s experiences that it did not pay.

Carnegie makes the excellent point that hatred, bitterness, and the desire for revenge do not pay. Those emotions systematically destroy us, not our enemies.

The writer of Proverbs said this in 15:17—

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from the grizzly, and the skunk.